Spalding dad’s marathon for Darcey

A Spalding couple are using the heartbreak of their daughter’s stillbirth to help other parents facing the same agony.

Rick Twelves (34) is in training for the Boston Marathon UK on Sunday, April 17.

Rick, Michelle and Ricky have all been in training and all three are running in memory of Darcey

Lucy Twelves

But Rick, whose wife Lucy saw her daughter Darcey stillborn on December 27, 2011, won’t be alone on the starting line in Boston’s Market Place next Sunday as he will be joined by Lucy’s sister Michelle Cordeux (30), of East Sussex, and Ricky Byfield (25), of Surrey.

The trio will be racing as Darcey’s Runners in aid of Aching Arms – which gives bears to hospitals for midwives to give to newly-bereaved mothers and fathers – and Sands, a charity specialising in stillbirth and neonatal death research.

Lucy said: “We all run as a hobby and to keep fit but this is the first time any of us will have done this event.

“Rick, Michelle and Ricky have all been in training and all three are running in memory of Darcey, as well as two amazing charities who will both appreciate every single pound you can spare.”

Lucy and Rick have previously raised thousands of pounds for Sands through donations and a Sleeping Angels Ball in April 2013 which raised about £3,000.

After the ball, Lucy said: “It was really above and beyond all our expectations and we were really proud.

“It was an excellent evening, the band we had there was brilliant and everyone had such a good time.

“We really didn’t expect to raise as much as we did, but we are really pleased as we could buy what we wanted to make things a bit easier for other grieving parents.”

Leanne Turner, charity co‐ordinator at Aching Arms, said: “We are delighted that Rick and the rest of Darcey’s Runners are raising money for Aching Arms as it ensures we can continue to offer comfort bears to bereaved parents.”

To sponsor any of the Darcey’s Runners, visit https://www.justgiving.com/teams/DarceysRunners